Asean
Impact of Liberalization for the ASEAN Economic Community
This study evaluates the impacts of liberalization and improved connectivity and facilitation among the ASEAN member countries. Simulation results reveal that reducing ad valorem equivalents of trade barriers has significantly positive impact on economic welfare

This study evaluates the impacts of liberalization and improved connectivity and facilitation among the ASEAN member countries. Simulation results reveal that reducing ad valorem equivalents of trade barriers has significantly positive impact on economic welfare
This study attempts to evaluate economic impacts of the liberalization in ASEAN by applying economy-wide simulation analysis based on a recursively dynamic CGE model.
We conduct policy simulations to capture the impacts of broader regional trade liberalization. Three main components driving the FTAs are to reduce average applied tariffs on goods, to lower barriers to trade in services, and to save time-cost arising relating to logistics.
Simulation results reveal that reducing ad valorem equivalents of trade barriers has significantly positive impact on economic welfare. Although there are differences in magnitude of positive contributions to welfare, all of the FTAs of which the ASEAN member countries are participating tend to raise welfare. Among the FTA policy scenarios examined in this study, the ASEAN+6 FTA leads to the largest positive impact on real GDP for most of the ASEAN member countries. Consequently, liberalization reforms among the ASEAN member countries attract more investments into the region both from domestic and foreign households, as well as generating higher volumes of international trade.
Asean
The Latest on Covid-19 in Southeast Asia
Thailand has largely avoided widespread community transmission of Covid-19, but the kingdom is not faring well on the economic front, with a projected contraction of 7.1 percent this year.

As a region, Southeast Asia has fared relatively well in keeping coronavirus cases low, with the notable exceptions of the Philippines and Indonesia.
(more…)Laos
China’s debt-trap diplomacy: Laos’ credit rating downgraded to CCC
Laos’ debt challenge is deeply concerning, with some media commentators suggesting the country is falling into a debt trap as a result of Chinese infrastructure investments connected to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

On 23 September, the Fitch Ratings agency downgraded Laos’ credit rating to CCC — the second downgrade in 2020, having dropped to B- in May.
(more…)Vietnam
Foreign capital still heads to Vietnam
As many as 798 projects added a combined over 5.11 billion USD to their investment capital, down 23 percent year-on-year in project number but up 6.8 percent in value.

Hanoi (VNA) – The total amount of foreign investment poured into Vietnam this year to September 20 reached 21.2 billion USD, equivalent to 81.8 percent of the same period last year, reported the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
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